They’ll all come to meet me. . .
It saddens me greatly to announce that my mom, Ellen, the wine diva of our family, took her last sip on January 15, 2025. She is predeceased by my dad, Harold, July 7, 2023, my brother, Albert, July 8, 2024, and survived by me, Kim, and my husband, her second son, Ed. My origin family is now all gone. They knew I would clean up after the party.
Mom was born, November 25, 1927, in Davidson, Saskatchewan. She was the youngest child of Swedish/Finnish homesteaders Esther and Carl Johnson. Her older siblings were Viola, Norman and Albert. They were a farming family in the time of the Great Depression and World War 2. Along with growing up with hardship and doing without, mom had a strict father that wanted her to be a school teacher. To get away from the restraints of life at home she left for Moose Jaw to get her teaching certificate. Later she taught all grades in one room school houses in Hanley, Harris, and Craig as well as helping on the farm during summers. She took a position that was still vacant in late November in the town of Goodeve. When she arrived, she found the school and teacherage rundown with no supplies and everything in disrepair. She was so angry about the conditions she showed up at a teacher’s meeting, went to the front where the supervisors sat, pounded on the desk demanding that it be fixed to a livable standard. That was my feisty mom. She still had to use oil lamps and chop wood to heat the school, but her tenacity and farm work experience allowed this young woman of 24 to put together a functional school. It was difficult living alone in what she called a Godforsaken place but she loved her freedom and especially loved her students. From the stories she told me, I wonder what she taught them! Being the new school teacher she had many suitors come knocking and soon met my dad. Before long they were married and driving to the west coast in her car! It was somewhat of a forced emigration. My brother arrived shortly afterwards and five years later I made my entrance in Lions Gate Hospital. They brought me home to Burrill Avenue in Lynn Valley where they lived for 53 years before moving to Campbell River in 2014.
Mom liked nice clothes, makeup, and dressing up but she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. I remember coming home from school and the basement walls were torn out to make for a much larger room or the time she was butchering a whole pig on the kitchen table. Mom was a homemaker but always worked part time to have her own spending money and afford a car. She drove a red 67 Beaumont. She was outgoing and fun. . . Always ready for a social drink, a song or especially a dance. She was also happy to be by herself. Mom said what she thought and enhanced it colourfully. She outlived her many life long friends. She was fearlessly independent and never complained about her aches and pains even at the end. The only thing mom complained about was why the bottle of wine couldn’t be kept in her room! There was an emergency text from the care home if she was running out.
It took a long time for me to recognize it, but in many ways I’m a lot like her. Knowing this will keep the memory of her close to me.
Leave your cares behind mom. Dad and Albert are waiting for you with open arms. Keep the volume up so I can find your kitchen party!
No service by request. To share a memory of Ellen or a condolence, please go to Talford Toneff & Boyd, Campbell River, website Telfordtoneffboyd.ca or send a personal note to me kzandef@gmail.com.
It’s good to touch the green green grass of home
